Ford any good?

[johngalt]

I've been thinking of a new car for a while, test drove a Mustang GT, it wasn't too bad, but kind of expensive for what it is.

I asked my mechanic what he thought of Fords, he was very down on them, in particular the F series trucks. He mentioned some chronic problems:

* Poorly designed and hard to work on. Connectors for various things on opposite sides of the car instead of being near each other, so hoses run all over. Need lots of special tools.

* Quickly rusts out on the under side. He mentioned seeing more than one Crown Vic with gas tanks about to fall off due to the straps rusting through.

* Problems with spark plugs. He said that in the past they were notorious for plugs popping out of the engine. After Ford's fix, now they break off instead.

I believe he used to work at a Ford dealer and parted ways on not the best of terms, so he may have an axe to grind.

Just wondering what other's experiences are.

 

[s&wchad]

The Mustang GT is rated 420HP. It's quite a car for the money, but not something you want to drive in the winter. The standard V6 is rated at 305HP, which is no slouch either!

I have a 2011 F150 and love it. Lots of power, solid, quiet, very comfortable and able to take four guys and all our gear on hunting trips. There's a reason it's the best selling vehicle in the USA (by far) and has been for a long time.

 

[wbraswell]

I have a 2003 Ranger, I bought new. Right at 100K on it now. No problems with drivetrain or quality anywhere. All manufacturers have some bad apples in the bunch. Some days, people have something on their mind besides work and quality, but they still come to work.

 

[WardenRoss]

FWIW...

I have a '96 Crown Vic and a '95 F-150, both bought new.

Fabulous vehicles, especially the F-150.

Also, my youngest son has a '92 Ranger with about 200K miles. That truck is bullet proof. Never has had any mechanical work done to it except an ignition module (ECU box) and a new radiator recently.


Not to take anything away from my wife's 2000 Honda Accord. She has 200K miles on it and she is rougher on cars than a Saturday night carjacker.

 

[DeadAye]

As for Ford *products*
Traded my 98 Grand Marquis with 200k+ on it for an 05 F-250. Couldn't be happier.
My wife got 225k on her Sable before she traded it.

Yeah - They just make junk

Oh yeah - I sold my '77 F-150 4x4 several years ago --- I still see it almost every day --- Wish I'd a kept it, but wanted something different at the time

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I think your mechanic has an axe to grind.........I'm not a Ford man for the simple reason that my butt and back like the Chevy seats better for long hauls. I have traveled in Expeditions and F-150s before and at the end of 150 miles my back is SCREAMING. My back much preferrs GM products (at least the truck line). As far as sedans Eh don't know one way or the othe-basically what feels best to my back-which as of now is that new Mercedes I sat in last week-my what a comfortable driving position!!!

 

[Rule3]

If I bought an American car, it would be a Ford. They survived without help from our Uncle.

The F150 has been the top selling vehicle (not truck) for who knows how long, they must be doing something right.

Don't base your decision on one persons opinion.

 

[Raider]

I have a 1994 Ford F150 with 180,000 miles and a 1997 Crown Vic with 153,000 miles on it. Both are fine vehicles with no chronic problems. Parts like catalytic converter, tires, brakes, starter etc. wear out eventually on any high mileage vehicle. No rust problems. I've owned 2 Ford trucks and one Crown Vic prior to my present ones. I consider Fords to be well built and trustworthy though I have no experience with the Mustang.

Charlie

 

[phulklip]

I had a 86 f150 bought new and sold in 2002 with 200,000 miles and then bought a 2002 which I sold last year with 170,000 miles. Neither truck cost me more than regular maint. I'm now driving a 2012 f150 that's great. As mentioned before, there's a reason it's the best selling truck.

 

[MODEL57]

I own a 2000 Excursion and a 2003 RAM 2500, the Excursion is a far better truck. More reliable, comfortable and more power. The Excursion has cost me a lot less in repairs, better fuel mileage v-10 versus the Hemi and far better driving vehicle than other brands of trucks on the market.

 

[kcabear]

Well I may be a bit biased to answer cause I'm die hard Ford.(my grooms cake was a Ford emblem)
The Mustang GT is a man of a car. If you want something fast that is it, but if you like the Mustang and are not interested in all that the V6 is a good option, plus has over 300hp.
Ford did have a few problem areas, the 2000-2008 F150 5.4 V8, the aluminum heads would strip out or the plugs would break.
The 6.0 powerstrokes had trouble if you put over 100hp programmers and started stretching head bolts.
Consumer reports gave Ford a negative review because the first year the MyFord Touch and sync had a few bugs. Check JD Powers for accurate reliability.
I've had probably 5 Fords from rangers, mustangs, F150, Superdutys and they have been good to me. I currently own a 05 Ranger Fx4 that I love and I ordered my wife a 2013 Fusion Titanium Ecoboost which we pick up in 2 weeks!!!

 

[carpriver]

Over the years I have owned a ford pinto it got to small for the family and 1980 Bronco straight 6 best 4x4 I ever owned, a couple of rangers good small truck never any problem with them, My wife has had a sable and a tarus, and a couple explorers, my last 3 full size trucks have been f-150. other them the routine maintance I have no problems. quality has been very good, fit and finish very good. I buy a car or truck drive it 3-4 years and get a new one mainly because I have been able to afford too. I am drawn back to ford because for the quality. My father retired from Chryslers, my baby brother from Ford my oldest brother retired from GM I have owned all three and return to Ford.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Your buddy sounds like the "lonely wrench" when it comes to vehicle manufacturers. Resentment is cancer of the soul.

 

[kraigwy]

Ford any good???

I have two pickups, '07 3/4 diesel, '94 3/4 Diesel, '05 Exployer, '04 Mustang, and '56 850 tractor.

Ford any good???

Yeap, it's the only brand I would buy any more (except Harleys, Ford doesn't make Harleys).

Might get a 4 wheeler one of these days, but Ford don't make those either.

 

[feralmerril]

I havent had a ford in a long time so wont argue ford versus gmc or whatever. Stop and think. All big 3 buy each others vehicles, strip them down and see what ticks. They all then try to match whatever is the new technology or make it better if the other companys is better than theirs. It`s called compition. If any one company was a far better product than the other and cost the same or less, the worse product would be out of business over night. It`s s&w model 27-2 against colt python. Model 10 against offical police. As dad told me, the world would be in trouble if every man wanted the same woman.
My biggest problem is where I now look for a car or truck big enough to where I can get in or out of fairly easy.

 

[Snapping Twig]

My Dad was a Ford guy, so my first few new cars were Fords, specifically Rangers, 84 4 cyl, 89 2WD extra cab Ranger 4L, 92 extra cab 4WD 4L.

All three Ranges had the dreaded valve cover leak that could not be repaired.

Whenever I needed a part, they asked for the VIN because there were "9 line changes that year...".

So I switched to Dodge in the mid 90's and loved them, but times change and I recently bought a used 09 Lincoln MkS.

Fantastic car!

Ford is stepping up their game.

 

[gdnagle]

I have a 1993 Ranger 3.0 298000+ miles my personal favorite 26+ mpg replaced heater core 2 times about 1 lazy hrs work brushes in alt 3 0r 4 times clutch mechanic said it didn't need replace, transmision my fault read chiltons manual said to use 90wt fluid no,no use atf still drive good but AC doesn't work r22 hard to get now, 2005 F150 FX4 70000+ miles no problems, 84 mustang convert 3.8 ran great till I poped the raditor hose and warped the head, still ran around town but highway would heat up because of warped head been setting for years been meaning to replace engine I have had Chevys, Olds, Pontaic Trans Am, Buick Rendezvous, and even a ugly Pontiac Aztec which rode good but GM v6 which broke also ,TR7 (broke everything on the drive train on it but fun to drive) even a capri only vehical I had problems with was GM v6 engines two of them had oils problems and wiped out the bearings. All motor co make good vehicles and some lemons just luck of the draw. BTW hit a deer 70+mph with Ranger only took out grill and bent bumper Built ford tough I guess I also took foot off the break before strike so deer went under vehicle helped a lot on damage still drives good. Tires and oil changes only besides what I listed but I won't buy another GM v6 just my opinion. Like guns and everything else everyone has their favorite and like to bash the others. If IIRC Ford was the only one to not take a bailout so must be doing some right. Could say I've bought most of the major mfg vehicles and don't bash any of them but GM V6 but others don't have a problem with them but I do high milage. Also don't know how I forgot two HD one 58 pan retired and 84 FXR with over 100000+ miles no problem with them either

 

[venomballistics]

long ago I bought an 87 mustang for $1200
I STILL have it.
thats a quarter century

 

[venomballistics]

If I bought an American car, it would be a Ford. They survived without help from our Uncle.

The F150 has been the top selling vehicle (not truck) for who knows how long, they must be doing something right.

Don't base your decision on one persons opinion.

well ... GM surviving on help from uncle same isn't exactly true.
it amounted to something like a stock market pump and dump just prior to a shady chapter 11. GM didn't exactly survive. Its a new company.
As of the right now, Im hard pressed to find a US built GM in the line up. The Malibu is said to come closest though its platform and overall body style seem to trace to either a Vauxhall or some flavor of Opel though it seems some extra time is invested in it to change its appearance from the parent Opel/ Vauxhall Insignia it comes from.
Im not saying any of this to flame GM or scorch the pride of the bow tie faithful. Just know these things are now just rebranded offerings from many nations with running gear from who knows where else.
if it sounds severe ... Dodge is even worse. Ford seems to try the hardest to keep it American ... but they do it too. welcome to the new auto industry

 

[Grayfox]

I've mentioned before that I'm a mechanic for the city I live in. We have ALOT of vehicles. The vast majority of them are Fords.
We have over 70 Crown Victoria Police cars and close to 100 light trucks ranging from F-150s up to Super Duty Crew Cabs. All of our Ambulances are built on Ford chassis.
There's a reason for than. The Fords hold up better than any other brand we've ever tried. Bear in mind that these are work vehicles. They're out in the streets all day, every day.
BTW: my personal vehicles are a F-150 and a Mercury Grand Marquis.